For seven consecutive days, the Chu Army led by Ye Shikai advanced rapidly, covering a hundred miles a day and swiftly penetrating Ba Shu’s heartland.

"Ba Shu is renowned as the Heavenly Mansion, and indeed it’s well-deserved." Ye Shikai, admiring Ba Shu’s scenery, couldn’t help but sigh. Compared to the war-torn Central Plains, this place is much more tranquil, though the court’s heavy taxes impose a great burden on the people, at least there is no war here.

"Indeed, Ba Shu is rich in resources. Our army conquering this place and using it as a rear base means we won’t have to worry about supplies." Man Cang was also excited, surprised that he could lead troops to capture this place himself. Just last year he was merely a small convict soldier; had the war not arrived, he wouldn’t know where he might be.

"Yes, hopefully the world can soon find peace."

"Report... General, the Qin General guarding the city ahead has opened the gates and surrendered." A messenger soldier came riding to report.

"That’s fantastic. This way, we can avoid a clash of arms." Ye Shikai was delighted upon hearing the news; if one less person dies, it’s the best outcome.

"Our army is disciplined and has abolished the court’s excessive taxes and cruel labor punishments. The general has ordered some military grain and pay be distributed to aid the people. Now, in Sichuan, the praises for the general are everywhere; many Qin soldiers have surrendered along the way, so naturally we’ve faced little resistance."

"The people have suffered under Qin for a long time. Now is the time to reduce taxes and show benevolence. As long as we win the people’s hearts, the situation in Ba Shu will stabilize." Ye Shikai smiled contentedly.

"Man Cang, how far is it to Chengdu from here?" Ye Shikai suddenly asked.

"It’s roughly five hundred miles away. The roads in Ba Shu are mostly rugged. Although our army advances swiftly, it will take at least a week to reach the destination. Additionally, our army has penetrated over seven hundred miles into Shu, and after a week’s time, the camp’s grain supply is nearly depleted. The general has strictly forbidden the soldiers from seizing grain from the people, so our supply can only rely on transport from the rear."

"Alright then, our army will rest for three days here, awaiting the grain supply from the rear before proceeding." Ye Shikai instructed that although speed is crucial in war, the Chu Army had already firmly grasped the situation. King Zhang Lan and Wang Lian had already seized all the northern passes of Ba Shu, making it impossible for the Qin Army to enter Sichuan. Capturing Chengdu is just a matter of time.

"Understood."

The troops found a flat area, set up camp, and Ye Shikai finally breathed a sigh of relief. This was the largest campaign he had ever led but also the easiest one fought. Compared to the previous encounters with Wang Li, this was exceedingly effortless, as if "cutting through melons and vegetables." To be honest, facing Wang Li was like being on the betting table with a fifty-fifty chance. Ye Shikai was not confident, worrying if Wang Li might intervene again this time. However, so far, there was no news of any Qin reinforcements.

On the third day.

"General, the grain has arrived. A hundred thousand piculs of grain have all been delivered." Early in the morning, Man Cang rushed into Ye Shikai’s tent to announce.

"Good, the troops will set out immediately. No need for forced marching; proceed at a normal pace." Ye Shikai had long calculated the approximate time; when entering Sichuan, the front army and central army were moving fast, covering a hundred miles a day, while the baggage train moved slowly, covering only about fifty miles a day. So, waiting three more days meant the grain transports were scheduled to arrive.

"Report..." Suddenly, a messenger soldier dashed into the camp, not even having time to inform the guard, barging in directly. Had he not been wearing the Chu Army’s uniform, the guard would have shot him dead.

"What’s the situation, so urgent, what manners are these?" Ye Shikai saw this and suddenly felt a panic. If not for an emergency, how could they use the eight hundred mile express?

"Wait a minute. You’re not a messenger soldier; you’re Shangguan Jian’s personal guard." Ye Shikai looked at his face and instantly recognized him. This person had always been by Shangguan Jian’s side, so as Ye Shikai saw him more often, his face became familiar.

"General Ye, Shangguan Jian’s letter must be delivered within two days."

"What on earth is the matter?" Ye Shikai asked anxiously as he opened the letter, finding only two lines of text, but the content left his mind blank, unable to react.

"General, what exactly happened?" Man Cang sensed something was wrong and stepped forward to inquire.

"Eight thousand Qin soldiers... were all slaughtered."

"What." Man Cang exclaimed in shock, signaling for all the soldiers to withdraw.

"The other day, the lord personally arrived at the rear camp and personally ordered... the slaughter of all Qin soldier prisoners." Ye Shikai clenched his fists tightly, heart feeling as though he’d been punched hard, overwhelmed with pain, collapsing onto the table.

"General, are you alright?" Man Cang hurriedly moved forward to support him.

"How could this happen? How could the lord come?" Ye Shikai struggled to accept this fact. If the messenger wasn’t Shangguan Jian’s personal guard, he might even believe this to be false news. The Qin soldiers surrendered, Ye Shikai led the Chu Army into Sichuan, marching rapidly for seven days, resting on-site for three days, totaling only about ten days. Mi Wen reached the rear camp the other day, meaning from the surrender of the Qin soldiers to Mi Wen’s arrival at the rear camp, ordering the slaughter of all prisoners, it was less than eight days...

The rear camp was located in Gui Xiang, thousands of miles away from Linxiang City. Even with an eight hundred mile urgent military report, it would take three or four days to deliver. Hence, when the surrender of the Qin soldiers was urgently reported to Linxiang City, Mi Wen immediately left the city, directly leading the troops to the rear camp. Her purpose was crystal clear; Ye Shikai did not specify in the military report how to handle the prisoners, only stating the matter was important and to discuss it later. Consequently, upon receiving the report, Mi Wen departed immediately, aiming to personally order the slaughter.

Though Shangguan Jian was the commander of the rear camp, naturally his four thousand troops followed his orders, but Mi Wen was ultimately the lord. While it’s said that outside the battlefield, one may not obey the sovereign’s orders, when the lord personally arrives, Shangguan Jian naturally cannot defy.

Thinking of the slaughter of eighty thousand people, Ye Shikai’s hands couldn’t stop trembling. The battlefield’s massacre of tens of thousands, blood splattering all over him, never scared him, because war inevitably causes death. But Mi Wen’s order to slaughter meant killing unarmed people, a decision that didn’t have to be, one that could have spared the lives of thousands more...

"General, what should we do now? The troops have already begun preparing to set out." Man Cang was worried about Ye Shikai’s mental state, as he seemed "unstable" now.

"Cancel... cancel the advance plan. The entire army will camp on the spot and await my command."